queenofzan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
queenofzan) wrote2022-05-06 09:13 pm
queenofzan) wrote2022-05-06 09:13 pm
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The Killing Type Extra: Boss Letters
I was thinking the other day what The Killing Type must look like from Bastiaan’s old captain’s point of view. Bastiaan specifically doesn’t mention his relationship with Lennart when it first happens, and then I thought…when does he mention this? Does he bring it up before the wedding invitation or???
Because I did establish that Bastiaan’s captain has basically been looking out for him since he was a kid. Imagine being like a grizzled mid-30s mercenary and suddenly you accidentally adopt a traumatized autistic kid. And then 10 years later he gets a job offer to teach and is like “yeah okay” and like. What are you going to say? Teaching teenagers how to defend themselves is definitely safer than merc work. But also aaaaaa that weird kid is so important to you and he has no idea how to live around other people aaaaaaa
Anyway, here’s a set of letters exchanged between Bastiaan’s bosses.
—-
Dear Headmistress Agatha Maartens,
We spoke briefly last autumn, upon the occasion of you hiring one of my best mercenaries to teach at your Academy. I’m sorry to bother you, as you no doubt have many demands on your time, but I can think of no one else who might be able to help me in this situation.
In case you aren’t aware, because I doubt Bastiaan thought to inform you, he was orphaned at the age of thirteen and joined my mercenary troupe shortly thereafter. I know you might think that letting him join was an irresponsible thing to do–many do, when I first tell them–but I didn’t think I had any real chance of dissuading him from seeking revenge on those responsible for the death of his family, and at least I would know someone was keeping an eye on him if he came along with us. I don’t have any children, but after looking after Bastiaan for ten years, I admit to being a bit emotionally invested in the boy’s well-being.
We’ve been in infrequent but regular communication since he started teaching at your school. Knowing Bastiaan as I do, I was aware I’d have to do some reading between the lines to figure out what’s going on in his head, but his most recent letter has me somewhere between confused and concerned, and I was hoping for an outside perspective. As an educator, I think you’ll understand what I mean when I say I needed to talk to the closest thing to the adult responsible for him. I know he’s a man grown, but twenty-three doesn’t seem that much older than the teenagers he’s teaching now, at least to a man of my age. I hope you know what I mean.
In his most recent letter, Bastiaan told me he was moving in with one of the other instructors at your Academy. I have to assume this is the same colleague he mentioned “spending a good deal of time with” in prior letters. What concerns me is the man’s name, which is Lennart. I thought I recalled Bastiaan mentioning something about a Lennart in one of his first letters to me in the weeks following his taking the job there, so I went back through the letters he’d sent me, and sure enough, he mentioned a Lennart who seemed to be trying to intimidate him.
Granted, Bastiaan used to have some trouble reading social situations, but I thought he’d gotten pretty good at it. Personally, however, I’m struggling to see how he went from butting heads with this Lennart to–please correct me if I’ve gotten the wrong impression, because as I said, I’m having to read between the lines in Bastiaan’s rather uninformative letters–being in a romantic relationship with him.
I’d appreciate hearing your view of the situation, and perhaps your judgement of this Lennart. I know Bastiaan’s a grown man and I’m not even related to him, but I looked out for him for a good decade, plus he was the best apprentice I ever had, and I’d like to know if I’m simply experiencing the same paranoia all parents feel when their kids strike off on their own, or if I do need to come clear up some potentially embarrassing misunderstandings, or…I don’t know what. It never crossed my mind when Bastiaan left to work for you that he might run into any situation I would worry he couldn’t handle, but then I never thought about how little growing up the way he did would have prepared him for relationships and romance.
On one level, I hope I’m blowing this out of proportion and getting all worked up over nothing, and you’ll be gracious enough to forgive the paranoid thoughts of an old mercenary, but on the other…well, I would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts on the matter.
Sincerely,
Captain Joeri Miller
*
Dear Captain Miller,
I appreciate your concern over Bastiaan’s well-being, and I certainly take no offense at either your asking or said concern.
With the benefit of hindsight, I believe what Bastiaan interpreted as Lennart trying to intimidate him was Lennart doing a poor and confusing job of expressing his interest in Bastiaan. Lennart was also a mercenary for a significant portion of his life, beginning at the age of twelve, so he and Bastiaan have many things in common, including, as far as I can tell, the somewhat limited understanding of relationships.
As you noted in your letter, some of the younger instructors here, which category includes both Bastiaan and Lennart, are not so far off in age from their charges. I believe this is helpful in some circumstances, but does mean in this case that Bastiaan’s relationship with Lennart has more in common with the awkward adolescent flirtations of our students than I think either young man would like. I assume this explains Bastiaan’s reticience in his letters to you, because they have not been particularly secretive, or even discreet, here at the Academy. I could probably give you a reasonably accurate timeline of major milestones in their relationship, despite having never discussed it with either of them, as a result of both their lack of care that anyone know about it, and the unfortunately robust gossip ecosystem a boarding school boasts.
Let me reassure you that Lennart is no threat to your erstwhile apprentice, except, perhaps, in the way all dear ones are to someone. Bastiaan certainly cares enough for Lennart that Lennart could wound him with an unkind word or action, but I believe the reverse holds true as well, and is therefore rather unlikely.
Lennart has been employed at the Academy as a combat instructor for four years now, following a personal recommendation from Lord Roosa. In his first year, I did harbor some concerns about how he related–or more often, failed to relate–to the other staff as well as to his students, but he proved himself a very capable and thoughtful teacher. His lack of social polish no longer concerns me overmuch, as he performs all his duties thoroughly and efficiently, as well as demonstrates considerable attention to the safety of his students, and indeed, all the students at the Academy.
I have not been responsible for Lennart quite as long as you were responsible for Bastiaan, but even as an educator who has been responsible for many young people over the years, I must also admit there is something about a very young adult still in need of guidance that leads me to grow attached to some of my younger instructors, Lennart particularly. It was obvious to me quite early on that life had not treated him well. I assume you understand why, as you are probably one of the only other people familiar with what might lead a twelve (or thirteen)-year-old boy into a mercenary career, and what such an adolescence might do to him.
As such, I was quite pleased when it became clear that Lennart and Bastiaan had developed some common feeling over their shared interests. Although I have never before seen two people carry out a courtship through regular sparring sessions, it seems to have worked for them. Indeed, I was the one who suggested they might take a set of quarters together, when I offered Bastiaan a continuing position at the Academy.
Lennart is an unusual young man, and Bastiaan is certainly not the first person to be put off or intimidated by him at first. However, I do believe they have more in common than being two of the youngest mercenaries I have ever heard of, and while I don’t know Bastiaan as well as you do, I can say with a good deal of certainty that I have never known Lennart to be happier or more relaxed than in the months since he and Bastiaan began spending time together. It might not look the way other people’s happiness or comfort look, but it is apparent enough to me.
I cannot tell you what to do, of course, but I suspect it would be better if you weren’t to mention to Bastiaan that we corresponded about this. The poor boy seemed embarrassed enough to realize I knew about their relationship; I wouldn’t want him to feel the grown-ups were discussing him when he was out of the room. (Although I daresay that is a fair summary of what we are doing!)
Despite your protestations that you have no children, I am very impressed both with Bastiaan’s skills as well as his character, and would like to offer both my gratitude and my congratulations on the part you surely played in the man he has become. He speaks very highly of you, and I am inclined to agree with his evaluation.
You need not fear writing me is any sort of imposition. I welcome your correspondence on this or any other topic. If I am particularly busy my response may be delayed, but I assume as a working man yourself, you would understand such delays.
Best,
Headmistress Agatha Maartens
Because I did establish that Bastiaan’s captain has basically been looking out for him since he was a kid. Imagine being like a grizzled mid-30s mercenary and suddenly you accidentally adopt a traumatized autistic kid. And then 10 years later he gets a job offer to teach and is like “yeah okay” and like. What are you going to say? Teaching teenagers how to defend themselves is definitely safer than merc work. But also aaaaaa that weird kid is so important to you and he has no idea how to live around other people aaaaaaa
Anyway, here’s a set of letters exchanged between Bastiaan’s bosses.
—-
Dear Headmistress Agatha Maartens,
We spoke briefly last autumn, upon the occasion of you hiring one of my best mercenaries to teach at your Academy. I’m sorry to bother you, as you no doubt have many demands on your time, but I can think of no one else who might be able to help me in this situation.
In case you aren’t aware, because I doubt Bastiaan thought to inform you, he was orphaned at the age of thirteen and joined my mercenary troupe shortly thereafter. I know you might think that letting him join was an irresponsible thing to do–many do, when I first tell them–but I didn’t think I had any real chance of dissuading him from seeking revenge on those responsible for the death of his family, and at least I would know someone was keeping an eye on him if he came along with us. I don’t have any children, but after looking after Bastiaan for ten years, I admit to being a bit emotionally invested in the boy’s well-being.
We’ve been in infrequent but regular communication since he started teaching at your school. Knowing Bastiaan as I do, I was aware I’d have to do some reading between the lines to figure out what’s going on in his head, but his most recent letter has me somewhere between confused and concerned, and I was hoping for an outside perspective. As an educator, I think you’ll understand what I mean when I say I needed to talk to the closest thing to the adult responsible for him. I know he’s a man grown, but twenty-three doesn’t seem that much older than the teenagers he’s teaching now, at least to a man of my age. I hope you know what I mean.
In his most recent letter, Bastiaan told me he was moving in with one of the other instructors at your Academy. I have to assume this is the same colleague he mentioned “spending a good deal of time with” in prior letters. What concerns me is the man’s name, which is Lennart. I thought I recalled Bastiaan mentioning something about a Lennart in one of his first letters to me in the weeks following his taking the job there, so I went back through the letters he’d sent me, and sure enough, he mentioned a Lennart who seemed to be trying to intimidate him.
Granted, Bastiaan used to have some trouble reading social situations, but I thought he’d gotten pretty good at it. Personally, however, I’m struggling to see how he went from butting heads with this Lennart to–please correct me if I’ve gotten the wrong impression, because as I said, I’m having to read between the lines in Bastiaan’s rather uninformative letters–being in a romantic relationship with him.
I’d appreciate hearing your view of the situation, and perhaps your judgement of this Lennart. I know Bastiaan’s a grown man and I’m not even related to him, but I looked out for him for a good decade, plus he was the best apprentice I ever had, and I’d like to know if I’m simply experiencing the same paranoia all parents feel when their kids strike off on their own, or if I do need to come clear up some potentially embarrassing misunderstandings, or…I don’t know what. It never crossed my mind when Bastiaan left to work for you that he might run into any situation I would worry he couldn’t handle, but then I never thought about how little growing up the way he did would have prepared him for relationships and romance.
On one level, I hope I’m blowing this out of proportion and getting all worked up over nothing, and you’ll be gracious enough to forgive the paranoid thoughts of an old mercenary, but on the other…well, I would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts on the matter.
Sincerely,
Captain Joeri Miller
*
Dear Captain Miller,
I appreciate your concern over Bastiaan’s well-being, and I certainly take no offense at either your asking or said concern.
With the benefit of hindsight, I believe what Bastiaan interpreted as Lennart trying to intimidate him was Lennart doing a poor and confusing job of expressing his interest in Bastiaan. Lennart was also a mercenary for a significant portion of his life, beginning at the age of twelve, so he and Bastiaan have many things in common, including, as far as I can tell, the somewhat limited understanding of relationships.
As you noted in your letter, some of the younger instructors here, which category includes both Bastiaan and Lennart, are not so far off in age from their charges. I believe this is helpful in some circumstances, but does mean in this case that Bastiaan’s relationship with Lennart has more in common with the awkward adolescent flirtations of our students than I think either young man would like. I assume this explains Bastiaan’s reticience in his letters to you, because they have not been particularly secretive, or even discreet, here at the Academy. I could probably give you a reasonably accurate timeline of major milestones in their relationship, despite having never discussed it with either of them, as a result of both their lack of care that anyone know about it, and the unfortunately robust gossip ecosystem a boarding school boasts.
Let me reassure you that Lennart is no threat to your erstwhile apprentice, except, perhaps, in the way all dear ones are to someone. Bastiaan certainly cares enough for Lennart that Lennart could wound him with an unkind word or action, but I believe the reverse holds true as well, and is therefore rather unlikely.
Lennart has been employed at the Academy as a combat instructor for four years now, following a personal recommendation from Lord Roosa. In his first year, I did harbor some concerns about how he related–or more often, failed to relate–to the other staff as well as to his students, but he proved himself a very capable and thoughtful teacher. His lack of social polish no longer concerns me overmuch, as he performs all his duties thoroughly and efficiently, as well as demonstrates considerable attention to the safety of his students, and indeed, all the students at the Academy.
I have not been responsible for Lennart quite as long as you were responsible for Bastiaan, but even as an educator who has been responsible for many young people over the years, I must also admit there is something about a very young adult still in need of guidance that leads me to grow attached to some of my younger instructors, Lennart particularly. It was obvious to me quite early on that life had not treated him well. I assume you understand why, as you are probably one of the only other people familiar with what might lead a twelve (or thirteen)-year-old boy into a mercenary career, and what such an adolescence might do to him.
As such, I was quite pleased when it became clear that Lennart and Bastiaan had developed some common feeling over their shared interests. Although I have never before seen two people carry out a courtship through regular sparring sessions, it seems to have worked for them. Indeed, I was the one who suggested they might take a set of quarters together, when I offered Bastiaan a continuing position at the Academy.
Lennart is an unusual young man, and Bastiaan is certainly not the first person to be put off or intimidated by him at first. However, I do believe they have more in common than being two of the youngest mercenaries I have ever heard of, and while I don’t know Bastiaan as well as you do, I can say with a good deal of certainty that I have never known Lennart to be happier or more relaxed than in the months since he and Bastiaan began spending time together. It might not look the way other people’s happiness or comfort look, but it is apparent enough to me.
I cannot tell you what to do, of course, but I suspect it would be better if you weren’t to mention to Bastiaan that we corresponded about this. The poor boy seemed embarrassed enough to realize I knew about their relationship; I wouldn’t want him to feel the grown-ups were discussing him when he was out of the room. (Although I daresay that is a fair summary of what we are doing!)
Despite your protestations that you have no children, I am very impressed both with Bastiaan’s skills as well as his character, and would like to offer both my gratitude and my congratulations on the part you surely played in the man he has become. He speaks very highly of you, and I am inclined to agree with his evaluation.
You need not fear writing me is any sort of imposition. I welcome your correspondence on this or any other topic. If I am particularly busy my response may be delayed, but I assume as a working man yourself, you would understand such delays.
Best,
Headmistress Agatha Maartens